RS Candidates

[shocker22]

Who ends up getting the redshirts?

Zach Beringer RHP
Kris Gardner LHP
Dillon Kerans RHP
Albert Minnis LHP
Drew Rainey LHP
Foster Vielock RHP

Interesting that there are no position players that will redshirt.

[KC Shox]

Damn I hate the idea of Minnis red-shirting. I've bought into the hype of his potential and if he does RS, then more than likely we would get two years out of him instead of 3. Yes, I'm selfish.

[dregn]

I don't see Minnis red shirting for the exact reason KC Shox gave. Usually you hate to waste half a season, but in this case you may lose a whole one.

[JohnnieBallgame]

The same logic could likely be applied to all of the Freshman pitchers at WSU. Rainey is a junior which may or may not make a difference.

[Shocker85]

I don't see Minnis red shirting for the exact reason KC Shox gave. Usually you hate to waste half a season, but in this case you may lose a whole one.

If the Shox pitching staff has established clear roles when Minnis becomes eligible and especially if the bullpen is producing, Minnis might as well red-shirt. OTOH, if he's a "lock" to be a 3 and done player, then a red-shirt (half) season is lost. The question is: Is any player really a known quantity until he faces live competition at this level?

--'85.

[JohnnieBallgame]

As far as physical maturity/development IMHO it appears that Minnis' body is about what his body is going to be. His opportunity for improvement could very well be just mental maturity and toughness. Same goes for Rainey. The remaining guys on the list may not be done with physical growth and strength yet. :good:

[1972Shocker]

You can take Zach Beringer off the list.

Foster Vielock also can be dropped from the list.

[1972Shocker]

Drew Rainey pitched on Sunday. That dwindles the list to:

Kris Gardner LHP
Dillon Kerans RHP
Albert Minnis LHP

[JohnnieBallgame]

Are we in a position to where someone has to redshirt? Or are we in a situation to where it might be beneficial for a player or the team for a player to redshirt?

After having seen 5 of the 6 on the list pitch in either highschool or summer, I find it interesting that the 3 who remain were the pitchers I was most impressed with. Minnis is very good now, Gardner and Kerans with the proper amount of Kemnitz can be extrordinary....huge potential with them both.

Gardner was injured this fall. Kerans, as I understand it was pitching this fall with a pinched nerve in his back and a problem with either a blister/wart/callous on a finger. I'm not sure if the coaching staff was aware of the issue until after the fall season or they may have shut him down. I was able to see Kerans numerous times the last couple of years and have seen him pitch, control is normally his M.O. He threw 83-85 as a junior behind Garrett Gould, and I saw him as a senior at anywhere from 87-92mph. According to teammates during a game at The University of Nebraska this past summer he was at 92-94 with a 92 into the 5th inning. If Kerans can gain 15-20 lbs. over the next year or 2, look out! As hard as he has thrown I wouldn't label him as a power pitcher.

I did not see Beringer pitch until this fall at WSU and feel that he has a bit of a "hitch" in his delivery. It was not as bad this weekend as this fall. Occasionally, I am able to tell what he is going to throw because he will hold his glove so I can see it from behind the 3d base dugout. He will also sometimes drop the ball below his glove and tip his grip when pitching from the stretch. With that said, he was much better this weekend then he was this fall! What a body, if you could choose one for a pitcher this would be a good one to choose.

I trust that the coaching staff will be very diligent in communication with these 3 freshman what their plans are. These are 3 pitchers who can IMHO be huge factors in getting WSU to Omaha in the near future! :good: